Urgent Action: FISHERMEN ON TRIAL AFTER PROTESTING ENCROACHMENT (Indonesia 68.24)

Ilham Mahmudi and Taufik, two fishermen from North Sumatra Province, face trial amid efforts to save their coastal village from drowning. They face up to five and a half years in prison after being indicted for alleged group violence and property damage. Local NGOs and advocates view the charges as a form of unjust criminalization linked to their activities as environmental activists. They, along with their community, strive to protect the mangrove forest in the area from encroachment, which they fear could lead to flooding and cause their village to sink. The Indonesian authorities must ensure a fair and impartial prosecution and grant their right to a fair trial.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: October 17, 2024

take action:

• Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
• Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 68.24. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

sample letter:

Dear Prosecutor,

I am writing to express my concern for Ilham Mahmudi and Taufik, two fishermen from Kwala Langkat Village who currently stand trial after their efforts to save their coastal village from drowning. Together with the locals, the two fishermen have been vocal in protesting the encroachment of a protected mangrove forest in their village by a private entity, fearing that it would lead to coastal erosion that endangers the village’s existence. 

On July 15, 2024, the prosecutors indicted Ilham and Taufik for allegedly participating in group violence and property damage during a protest on March 21, 2024, which involved the damaging of a makeshift hut in the forest. They were put on trial following weeks of pre-trial detention after they were arrested separately on April 18 and May 11, 2024, respectively. Both were arrested without warrants by plainclothes police officers and they were not accompanied by legal counsel during their first interrogation. While Taufik has been released from pre-trial detention since July 4, Ilham remains in the prosecutor’s office detention. They risk up to five and a half years in prison.

Therefore, I urge you to ensure that Ilham and Taufik’s fair trial rights are guaranteed in accordance with international standards. I also urge you to ensure that Ilham has regular, unrestricted access to a lawyer of his choice and is provided access to healthcare and medical treatment if he requires it. Finally, I ask the authorities to ensure that all human rights defenders and their families, including Kwala Langkat community, can carry out their protests peacefully without fear.

Yours sincerely, 

[YOUR NAME]

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